#like we are circling back ever since the EP

[coralsgrimes]

Oh my god, did you see where he likened his album to Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and Hozier?!

I mean, we know he wants to be Hozier, not gonna happen because even if Hozier isn’t your thing, the man is talented, but Elton and Stevie Wonder… LMAO. He’s not just a childish, self absorbed hack, he’s delusional

Coral le interviewer: So, Benny, what is your personal album about?

Benny: It's like kinda bleh and blah rip-off nostalgic Stevie Wonder, Elton John...

Coral le interviewer: No. I mean what artistic shite ye did for YOUR album, what's your story?

Benny: ...so Elton John, Hozier... HOZIER I would love to suck that man's... TALENT out till he's dry. I would kill him and wear his skin and honestly I am basically Hozier people get us confused all the time...

Coral le interviewer: So what is YOURS on this album Benny?

Benny: My name is Andrew.

[whateverisbeautiful]

♥️Reveling in Richonne - TOWL

#45: The Son's Best Friend (1.05)

gif cred: @ricksmarlene

He was in love with his son’s best friend. 😭

I had said there were two big lines in TOWL that would basically need a whole reflective post dedicated to them. And one of those lines was Michonne telling Rick the only time she feels safe is when she’s with him in ep 4. The other is this line here in ep 5 where Rick just makes every Richonne moment in TWD even better by confirming that before Richonne became canon, Rick was well aware that he was in love with Carl’s best friend 🥹...

In any post I have on Richonne's season 6 canon scene I have always expressed that it is so clear Rick is fully aware he’s in love with her before they sit on that couch. He knows. Not subconsciously but consciously knows he’s in love with Michonne before they ever kiss.

And for Rick to confirm this years later was just heavenly and it has given me a lot of new thoughts on Richonne’s TWD journey. So you know we gotta go in-depth and talk about it. 😋

After talking about RJ and Judith, Rick turns the attention back to Michonne when he holds up some toothpaste. And I love the playful way he says, “I got you something.”

gif cred: @riickgrimes

I always love a good callback so it’s great hearing him say this when he also told Michonne, "I got you something” regarding the mints during their season 6 canon episode.

Back then he had to make do with mints since the toothpaste sunk to the bottom of a lake - but now years later, Rick finally got her that toothpaste she wanted. Soon as he got it, she did. 😭

I really do marvel over the way TOWL came and just checked pretty much every possible Richonne thing we could have wanted and didn’t even know we wanted off the list.

And seeing Rick get this toothpaste was such a great full-circle callback to the episode where Richonne became official. Dental hygiene has been blessing the Richonne ship since season 5, y’all. And we’re still getting blessed by it in 2024. 🙌🏽

I’ve also always loved that Rick remembers every detail about Michonne so of course he remembers the exact flavor of toothpaste she likes as he walks over to her and says, “I think it was baking soda and spearmint. As requested.” So cute and Rick is the only man ever, just saying. 😋

gif cred: @ex0rin

I love his little playful flirty energy and that Michonne laughs as she immediately remembers the moment he’s calling back to. Michonne being courted by Rick is one of my favorite things and I love seeing her be so smitten by her handsome man yet again. Rick and Michonne are both a pro at getting each other to laugh and smile. 👌🏽

Then I love that she takes the toothpaste and all flirtily says, “Man of his word.” The way she’s smiling at him is so sweet. And then she says, “it only took a couple lifetimes” because they really have lived a whole lot of life since that day in season 6. 

gif cred: @ex0rin

And then next, y’all…I was attacked. I was attacked with a line so good it stayed stuck in my head for weeks. 😊

Because Rick then looks at Michonne and says,

“I was in love with my son’s best friend. I didn’t know what to do.” 🫠

The best. 😭😭😭

gif cred: @ex0rin

I had been hoping that TOWL would give Richonne a reflective moment to talk about and look back on their love story and this was such a great way to do it. It explains so much.

The ‘I was in love with my son's best friend’ line really is informative and got me reflecting back on Richonne's journey in The Walking Dead. And something that hit me was thinking about the tail end of season 4 - which I've always felt Rick was most definitely in love with Michonne by then.

I used to think it was only subconscious for him at that point but honestly...now I like to think he was even more aware he was in love with her than I originally thought at this time. He still was dealing with a lot mentally and externally of course, but he knew the love he had for Michonne was different in 4b.

And here’s where the son’s best friend part factors in - Rick realizes he’s in love with Michonne in 4b and what he also knows full well is that his son adores her and needs her. So at the same time that he’s realizing his feelings for Michonne, Carl is also forming this invaluable bond with Michonne. And Rick very clealry sees that.

gif cred: @tangerineprettygreen

Rick sees the way Carl genuinely laughs and has fun with Michonne over breakfast and on the train tracks. He sees how after the horrific trauma with the Claimers, Carl feels safe enough to fall asleep in Michonne’s lap.  (I like to think that Rick opened the car door to say it was time to head out and he saw his baby restful in her arms)

And while that’s more of a headcanon, we literally see Rick watch Michonne and Carl have a heart-to-heart in the forest that concludes with a hug during the s4 finale.

All of this is part of why this line in TOWL ep 5 is so fitting. Because during that s4 era, Rick had this romantic love for Michonne rising to the surface within him, but he also felt he needed to not act on those feelings because he saw his son needed Michonne just as much.

Every time Rick started looking at Michonne with those ILY eyes, he just had to look slightly to the side and see Carl looking up at Michonne as his best friend and safe space. And so as a caring dad, Rick didn't want to risk getting in the way of Carl and Michonne's bond.

But as Michonne says - Richonne's love can’t be denied - and it also can’t be avoided. So while Rick thought he could fend off or table his feelings - or idk what he thought he could do actually because he didn’t know what to do either - but any denial of their love was always going to be futile because Richonne was inevitable. They were meant to be. 😌

And one of the things that will always make my heart smile is knowing that Carl clearly seemed to feel Rick and Michonne were meant to be too, because he truly was not at all shocked when they finally got together.

When Carl found out about Richonne he fully approved and looked like the only thing that surprised him was that it hadn’t happened already. My boy Carl was looking at both Rick and Michonne with some 'duh, I been knew' energy the day after they got together. 😋

(Also, kids are super perceptive so I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if Carl could tell Rick was a lot happier in his relationship with Michonne than in his previous marriage.)

It turned out Rick never had to be worried about his love for Michonne complicating things between Michonne and Carl because not only was Richonne meant to be but so was Grimes Family 2.0.

They were always going to be the family they became because that’s just how destiny works. Beautiful destiny. 😌

(Side note: A few years ago I wrote a RIR post about that season 4 moment when Rick asks Michonne if she needs help cleaning up those walkers. To me, it really felt like Rick might have been intentionally waking up early to see Michonne. And after this “I was in love with my son's best friend” line now I'm just convinced that it’s true. 😋 Rick wanted to spend some alone time with his crush in that s4 scene. 👌🏽 Hence his cute little pouty face when Michonne warmly declined.)

And I love that Rick also admits he didn’t know what to do about the fact that he’d fallen in love with his son's best friend. That implies he thought about what to do and just came up short with an answer because he so badly didn’t want to potentially jeopardize Michonne’s vital role in his family’s life by trying to advance the relationship if it wasn’t something she also wanted.

It's funny how Rick and Michonne are very observant people but were hesitant to know for sure that the other really was into them romantically pre-canon. Even despite all the blatant attraction between them both. 😊

Had Rick or Michonne been observing any other two characters interact in the same way they do, they would have quickly clocked that the two have feelings for each other. But between them, they thought they had to ‘work up to’ finding out if the feeling was mutual when really they’ve been the others for the taking pretty much since season 4.

But it makes perfect sense that what took Rick so long to make his move wasn’t solely the world screaming at them, or the Lori baggage and PTSD he needed to heal from - it was also that he felt he’d need to tread lightly with his son’s best friend and not do anything to get in the way of Michonne and Carl's connection.

With what a loverboy Rick is, it actually would track that when love hit him he’d become aware of it sooner rather than later. Plus, the time between TWD 4.15 when Rick was looking at Michonne like 😍 on those train tracks & TWD 6.10 when Richonne got together on that couch was years for us but it was a much shorter span of time for the characters.

If Rick knew by the end of season 4 that he was in love with Michonne, to me his actions in season 5 really further solidify that he was in love with her and was at least somewhat aware that love was part of why she has so much influence on him and his decisions.

And when I think about it, even if Rick knew he was in love with Michonne at the end of season 4, there was hardly any room or privacy to forwardly act on the realization of those feelings during the majority of season 5.

They were busy escaping the jaws of cannibals, traveling on the road with scarce resources and team family always around, searching for a home base, and then arriving at ASZ, a place that initially put Rick more on edge than when they were roughing it outside the walls.

So that, on top of feeling like he can’t and won’t intervene in his son’s friendship with her by making his feelings known, makes a lot of sense as to why it took Rick the time it did to finally make his move. 

But even at a time where the weight of the world was on Rick's shoulders and so few could reach him in season 5, Michonne always could. She had his heart and there are moments in s5 where Rick could even be hinting that he knows she has his heart too.

I think about the 'Rules Keep Changing' scene in TWD 5.11 when Rick talks to Michonne about the rules changing regarding when to let someone in. After TOWL, I feel like that moment can be interpreted as Rick slowly coming around to maybe changing the rule that he can’t be with Michonne because she’s Carl’s bestie.

And you know what we gotta address next - when team family arrives at Alexandria, even the extremely brief and messy Jessie situation further aligns with Rick being in love with his son’s best friend if I do say so myself.

With Rick entering ASZ in love with a woman he's told himself is off limits because of his son, that would likely make Rick even more eager to divert that existing energy within him elsewhere since he at the time doesn’t feel he can bring that energy to his sons best friend, despite being in love with her.

It's like, on top of being rooted in his PTSD and paranoia, intervening with the Anderson situation gave Rick something to preoccupy that in-love-with-Michonne part of himself that he's trying to deny.

Even tho Rick still very much does bring that 'ILY' energy to Michonne in so many of Richonne's season 5b/6a scenes. Like how he's very adamant about securing the home she wants, how he 'signs the papers' with ASZ after Michonne confides in him about wanting a job and wanting this place to work, and how he directly lets her know that he knows she could've successfully talked him out of his under-the-table plans.

(Side note: The more I see this great Richonne season 5 finale scene, the more I feel like Rick actively wants to hint to Michonne that she's it for him with everything he's saying and doing here. It's just our girl Michonne was not yet translating all these signs from him as romantic interest in her, even tho Slick Rick was real obvious)

Also I noticed how the driving force of that whole thing with Jessie was never really rooted in Rick thinking ‘I want her’ but rather ‘She needs me.’

Rick mainly seemed to be thinking about how he was right for Jessie as a woman in need of protection, and he never really seemed to be assessing if she was right for him too. Never seemed to be considering his compatibility with her or focusing in on her based on anything unique/specific about her beyond surface-level attraction and the fact that she resembled what he was used to with Lori.

He didn’t evaluate any specifics or long-term outcomes with that Anderson situation (like how Carl would feel about all this) and he didn't tell anyone close to him about his dazed pursuit of her. And now I think that part of that is because Rick already knew the woman who was right for him. He knew the woman who had his heart and love already.

But the woman he wants is the woman he thinks he can't have because, being the selfless guy he is, he was not going to interfere with his son's relationship with his favorite person, even if Michonne had become Rick's favorite person too.

Women like Lori and Jessie were the type who would need to rely heavily on Rick’s protection to survive that world. And that's what Rick had been accustomed to. It's how he came to understand his own worth and value - through what he can do to save and rescue others.

However, Michonne doesn’t need Rick to survive in that way - but she does need him to live.

Michonne ushered in a whole new territory for Rick. One that was so refreshing and welcomed because she and him could lean on each other and not have things be one-sided. And I've always appreciated the way two very capable characters like Rick and Michonne so deeply and healthily need each other even with their individual capabilities. And I'm so happy with how that need for each other evolved into the deepest love for each other.

It just has always been so clear that by the time Rick kissed Michonne in s6 he was already fully in love with her. On that couch, they both kissed each other like they'd been wanting to do that a long while. That's part of why once Rick and Michonne kissed, their status didn't feel like gf/bf but husband and wife.

(Side note: I love how in TWD 6.11 Jesus assumed Rick and Michonne were Carl’s parents after walking in on them in the bedroom. That was Richonne’s very first time sleeping together and Jesus still quickly got the vibe that Rick and Michonne were in a committed relationship. ☺️)

(Another side note: it wasn't until this year that I noticed there's a quick wordless moment on that couch in 6.10 where Rick looks at Michonne and subtly gets permission to get on top of her. 😊 As many times as I've seen Richonne scenes there's always something new to catch.)

This immense love Richonne has for each other - it's not just made out to be this romantic and powerful in their spin-off series, it’s what it’s always been.

And when Rick and Michonne finally got together in 6.10 it wasn’t ushering in this wildly new dynamic between them - it was simply acknowledging their existing married dynamic and finally adding physical intimacy to the union.

Also, another one of the million things that I love about Richonne's first kiss in season 6 is that it seems like they immediately know this is right. Them being together romantically felt so right to them. And not only was connecting that way as good as they thought it'd be...it was even better. 😌

And after their canon ep, Rick was definitely of the mindset that he and Michonne were a ‘together forever’ couple in the way he was telling Michonne's bestie Carl 'This is different' the very next morning. 😋 Rick and Michonne were just in bed what a few hours ago? And Rick still already knew for certain what he has with Michonne is different and long-term. ☺️

Knowing he knew for a while that he was in love with his son's best friend, it makes it even more clear why Rick had that nervous energy when finally telling his son about him and Michonne. Behind that RV, Rick felt like he was approaching Carl not just as his son but as Michonne's best friend. Rick wanted to assure Carl that he has good intentions with his best friend since he knows how much Carl loves and is protective of Michonne.

Rick told Carl, "I was gonna tell you about me and Michonne..." and I'm convinced Rick meant that for a while he's been meaning to tell Carl about him and Michonne, not just since the night before.

(Side note: I was thinking about that scene in 6.12 when Rick leads a meeting in the church, telling ASZ about the plan to take out the Saviors. I always noticed how Rick ends the meeting by seemingly just walking out while they’re all still sitting there...and now, no one can tell me Rick didn’t walk out to go straight to moving Michonne’s stuff into his room. 😂

I believe this was their first time back home since his night with Michonne so Rick was like ‘listen community, I have some equally important matters to attend to like moving a bunch of tight pants and tank tops into my bedroom dresser so meeting adjourned.’ 👌🏽😋)

So now that I personally interpret that Rick was aware that he had fallen in love with Michonne earlier than previously thought, it led me to wonder about when I think Michonne was aware she'd fallen in love with him. While Rick and Michonne fell in love around the same time in season 4 to me, I feel Michonne became conscious of her feelings at a later time than Rick.

I'd say Rick knew his feelings for her before they entered ASZ. Like somewhere in between the train tracks scene in 4.15 and when Michonne takes Rick's hand outside the gates of ASZ in 5.11, he knows he's in love. And I think Michonne started to know consciously that she’d fallen in love with Rick after her chat with Deanna about what she wanted for herself.

It makes sense it would take a bit longer for Michonne to process and be aware of her feelings considering the losses and isolation she’d experienced at the start of the end of the world. She had a lot of time to wall up her heart after losing Mike and Andre, whereas Rick, even after he lost Lori, still had kids and a group he had to be present for.

Michonne was aware she felt safe with Rick and that he meant a lot to her for a while, but she just had to come around to fully realizing she was also utterly in love with him all this time too.

And again, it is always a little funny to me that Michonne thought she had to 'work up to' making her feelings known to Rick and seeing if it’s mutual when so many team family and ASZ members could already see that Rick and Michonne had something special between them and were each other's person.

(Another nother side note: I know we've wondered before why the show didn’t explore more men showing interest in Michonne when she’s an absolute catch in every way, but I think I might know why men weren’t more directly approaching her on that type of timing. After season 3 when the group was really small, season 4a when she was keeping herself at a friendly distance from tf, and 4b when she was pretty much only around the Grimes boys, she then had Rick Grimes - and Season 5 'Ain’t Nothing To Play With' Rick Grimes at that - showing clear signs that Michonne was the special woman in his life. I don’t think many men were gonna be bold enough to risk interfering with that when Richonne was basically out here already spoken for and living about as 'married with kids' as could be even before they became an official couple. 😅)

Also just hearing Michonne be referred to as Carl’s best friend again after all these years is so special. 🥹

She really was his best friend from season 4 to the very end, and I love that Rick has always known and appreciated that about Michonne and Carl’s tight-knit bond. 

So then I'm extra elated when Rick adds, “Then you asked for that toothpaste. I was damned if I didn’t find something.” 🫠💕

gif cred: @ex0rin

Every time I’ve watched that domestic opening scene in their canon ep, I’d always think about how clear it is that Rick was going to be adamant to bring home something to give Michonne. And that 'something' he found - those mints - will always hold a special place in their journey. 🥰

That’s another great thing about TOWL too is it allows you to watch Richonne's TWD journey with fresh eyes. Like the TWD Richonne moments already never got old but now not only do they not get old they almost feel a little fresh and new too.

And I love watching their moment on the couch and knowing when Rick reaches for those mints he's well aware that he pocketed those because he’s in love with her and wanted to show he could provide what Michonne wanted.

Like he acts like 'oh yeah I forgot, I have these mints'…but nah that was not an afterthought. That was a move lol. 😋 And honey, the move worked. 👌🏽

Rick was on that run with Daryl like if I do nothing else today I got to find something for her. He’s loved her a long time, y'all. We been knew and now it’s more than confirmed and it’s great. 🙌🏽

I love how, even after all these years, Rick still remembers the details of the day he and Michonne took their relationship to a new level and that he now gets to recall the details with Michonne. Just as his dreams suggested, falling in love with Michonne and Michonne falling in love with him are some of the things Rick is most grateful for in his life, so of course he remembers these things. I'm sure that man could give a play-by-play of that entire 6.10 day, from the morning to night. 😋

And I love that Rick wants Michonne to know he remembers. He wants her to know that everything about her and their love story is important to him. 🥲

Then it’s so sweet how Michonne hears this and pulls Rick in close to let him know, “You found your moment.” He really did, because bringing home those mints set off a canon. 😌

gif cred: @ex0rin

And then I love their flirty energy with Rick asking, “Is this one?” And Michonne all cutely shrugging and being like, look into my eyes, sir... “You tell me.” 😏 The way she’s smiling at him 🥹 - she’s down bad for her man y'all and it makes total sense.

Also, them playing all coy about whether this is a moment always makes me laugh cuz Richonne can turn any and every moment into a moment. 😋

Like they had a whole horny moment when CRM soldiers were just a few feet away and they didn't even try to align behind the bark of that boneless tree. They also had a quick makeout session mere seconds before a giant building collapsed. So they knew good and well this was a moment in the gift shop. It’s always a moment for Richonne, and we love this about them. 😇

gif cred: @nat111love

And because it’s always a moment, Rick leans in as they kiss and it’s just the best yet again. The way they said kissing is going to be embedded in the plot wherever it can is yet another TOWL blessing.

I love the kiss and then I especially love that Rick then kisses her neck. Prior to the show, I had been hoping for a Richonne gesture like this in TOWL and we got it cuz Richonne is the gift that keeps on giving and we’re spoiled.😋 They made me and @ririchonne's wish come true 🙌🏽😌

gif cred: @lousolversons

Also, Richonne has the best grown youthful love in media if you ask me and this moment was giving young energetic love in the best way. They have so many kisses in TOWL and each one is hot and sweet. 💯

So as they’re again getting lost in their blissful Richonne bubble, Michonne spots something and pulls away, and I love how Rick was so immersed in what they had going on that he’s a little caught off guard when she does that. 😋

And it’s so sweet that Michonne knows this and whispers, "sorry," giving him another kiss before checking out the front desk place. I love that little kiss and the way his arms are still around her until the last second.

Michonne notes that there’s a cabin nearby and Rick asks if she saw the sign on the road. Michonne smiles and takes a key, saying, “Looks like we found a place to stay for the night.” Fuel, food, room and board - I’m telling you, the Universe loves providing for Richonne because they know they’re the best soulmates in the land. 💁🏽‍♀️

gif cred: @nat111love

I love that when Richonne are in sync with each other, things just work out. And Rick notes this as he says, “Luck keeps holding up.” Normally those would be famous last words, but for Richonne they really do just win. 👌🏽

Now, I saw that there was originally a little flirty endbeat to this scene in the script that got cut. If that was filmed then I hope they release it as a deleted scene cuz I'm greedy when it comes to Richonne lol.🤞🏽 Either way, what did make the cut was excellent and I love that there was just so much Richonne gold within one scene.🥰

gif cred: @nat111love

Michonne was in love with her best friend's dad. 🥲 Rick was in love with his son's best friend. 🥲 And my heart will always be warmed thinking about how Rick knew he was in love with his son’s best friend and now that very woman has given him a son that he’ll soon get to meet. 🥲

Rick really went from being in love with his son’s best friend to being in love with his sons' and daughter’s mother. What a journey. 👌🏽🥹

[thebookofcarol]

Daryl and Carol back together again

And everything is right with the world again. So now that y'all seen the reunion, we can finally talk about it.

There's something primal, raw and heart-wrecking about the way Daryl just stops cause he cannot believe his eyes, drops his weapons, fuck it, he doesn't need anything, except to run to that one person who means everything to him - Carol. Thanks Norman for letting us know, this is exactly how you meant to play it.

It may or may not get long, so more spoilers after the jump...

That reunion scene is everything to me, and tbh at first, I was emotional but thought there was something missing and it hadn't topped the Terminus reunion for me, BUT after watching it a few more times, and in context, I really can't pick which one is my fav. I just can't. I can't even explain it, but there's something so real and palpable about it, that I didn't quite feel with the Terminus one. I guess this one was more serious, more emotional, deeper somehow... I'll be going around in circles and still powerless to translate my feelings into words. So BOTH, I'll pick BOTH. BOTH IS GOOD.

With the reunion out of the way, I feel like Daryl is constantly trying to make Carol understand he did not give up on going home, while Carol is confused and wondering what the heck happened for him to have created that connection with the people in France (Isa and Laurent) in such a short period of time.

Daryl tries to explain, he sounds downright apologetic to her. He says stuff like he didn't mean to care so much, he kept trying to get home to HER, things just happened when he and Isa just tried to help each other with Laurent's acting as the glue that held them together. That is all too familiar for Carol because that's how she ended up married to Zeke. But the way Daryl is trying to explain things doesn't sound at all like he's telling his best friend he fell in love, it feels like a cheating husband apologizing to his wife for his transgressions. I'm not saying Daryl betrayed Carol - HE DID NOT. However, the way he is acting is as if he is guilty, so what I think is that Daryl realized he's betraying his own feelings, and that's why he needs to explain it to Carol. Obviously, it all goes over her head since she states Daryl loved Isa, to which he stays absolutely quiet, just looking at her, and giving her the silliest little smirk ever. LIKE this woman is completely oblivious to what he is trying to convey. And it's so hilariously infuriating Carol of her to do that.

ANYWAYS, all the foreshadowing with Didi and Theo, how they found each other late in life, and are currently living happily together (not married!), just the two of them, living for each other. It's beautiful, it's romantic, and I believe it's exactly the type of happy ending EP's Norman and Melissa have in mind for Carol and Daryl's endgame. No matter who they are to each other, romantic or not, this is how they find happiness.

AND FINALLY. There's time for Carol and Daryl to make small talk, and they instantly fall back to that comfortable back and forth. It only feels different because the Carol and Daryl we used to know could not afford the time to just talk about wants, needs, school and traveling the world while on the main show. Now, they can just be themselves, have much more room to talk, talk about meaningless stuff that show us a bit more of who they are. And that's wonderful to me.

[a-couple-of-notes]

Many people have already talked about the things that feel off-kilter in this episode--the lack of moons on the door, the aspect ratio not changing, the real quick turnaround from Jen--and I tend to agree. I think there's a good chance this ends up not being what it seems (and Alice hopefully comes back, I love her).

BUT I'm going to operate under the assumption that this was real until proven otherwise. In which case, this was by far the weakest-paced episode, on a macro- and micro-level, but I can sorta see where they're going with it.

Alice tied up her main story last week. I still think they could have found a good narrative past that--what's her identity beyond her mother? She could have leaned into the parallels with Teen, coming into her witchhood. However, in a 9-episode series, I can understand wanting to clear space coming over the halfway mark. So they kill her. Okay, that's a way to do it.

We saw in episode 4 that the coven is capable of true camaraderie and grace toward each other; I can understand the structural instinct to immediately juxtapose that against the selfishness and tension they also carry. Jen's turn was a bit fast, but not totally out of the realm for her character. I don't think she was ever advocating for the coven to kill Agatha (that was Rio), but she has always pointed them toward the most logical, most expeditious solution, with a healthy dose of self-preservation to boot. She shoves everyone out of the way to go down the oven escape route in Ep. 3, she sticks inside the protection circle in Ep. 4, she's always pointing out Agatha and Rio's weird shit. I buy at least the concept that her logical nature, survival instincts, and long-established disdain for Agatha would combine into some version of the attitude we see in Ep. 5.

Billy/Teen could go either way. They've certainly laid the groundwork for the reveal of his identity. His actions are...questionable, but again not out of the realm of possibility for his characterization. Despite what Agatha (seems to?) imply about his manipulations, the episode shows he lashes out after Agatha kills Alice. Not only that, but all the other witches (not just Agatha) move on like nothing happened. Of course he would be angry with all of them! The outburst is emotional, not calculated. I think this was one of the smarter choices in the episode; we've seen that relationship grow in small but consistent ways since Ep. 3. And it lends Alice's death a lot more narrative weight to have a character--y'know, actually care about and change because of it. Sorry, Sharon. (Sidenote: Personally, I'm questioning the song choice at the end credits--like, I get it, big reveal, Wanda Maximoff crown, but the tone and lyrics undermine how much Teen's actions are driven by his friendship with Alice/grief over her death. I don't think sowing doubt over whether he was the villain all along is worth compromising that.)

This is a wild swing of an episode that I don't quite know lands for me, but it's also the halfway point of the show. Maybe none of this is real and all the off-kilter stuff is setting up for something smarter. But if it is real--If they wanted to raise the stakes and shift the tone--this would be the time to do it. (Although I mourn the version of this story where they continued with fun Halloween hijinks, reluctant found family, and toxic gay cosmic entity situationships.) There is a very good chance that the back half of the show justifies and contextualizes the choices in Ep. 5. But without having seen that yet, it's just whiplash.

[hayleysayshay]

Okay here’s how some ideas to adapt bard’s lament in TLOVM S3 if we had to keep this same story structure generally and end on a hopeful note but also allows the season to have actual interesting inter party conflict.

— At one moment in ep 1/2 where Scanlan talks to Kaylie he mentions his mother. Kaylie wants to know more, but Scanlan is too drunk and a mess to continue the conversation. Maybe he even says that he never talks about her — no-one ever asks, but again he’s too drunk to continue the conversation with Kaylie who is annoyed by this

— then episode 6 happens. Pike says he can go, so Scanlan tries to say that he wants to leave to find his daughter. The rest of the group are angry, there’s more pressing things right now, they’re a team, can’t this wait? Scanlan feels dismissed especially since he let them spend a night in his chateau.

— They return to Whitestone. The city is being attacked by dragons. Scanlan tries to help, but is severely hurt by dragon fire. Like head to toe burns. He’s hanging by a thread, Pike works for hours to keep him alive. It’s painful. (This way it’s a really traumatic moment for Scanlan like his death without being a death.)

— Scanlan finally wakes, maybe early ep 7, and then the Bards Lament breakdown happens. He and Percy especially snap at each other. He says they don’t care bout him, what is his mother’s name, he just wanted to see Kaylie.

— he asks Allura or Gilmore to transport him away to Kaylie. VM allow him to leave, Pike is hurt by him leaving, rest of VM more angry.

— we see in ep 8 Kaylie and Scanlan meeting. She’s happy that he came to find her. He plays her his song and he apologises for being a bad dad, but he wants to be there for her.

— Then Percy dies, and Thordak fight happens without Scanlan (just rework his contributions to another character (maybe Vex and Grog?))

— during ep 10 we see Scanlan and Kaylie in a bar together, chatting, where they hear that Thordak has been defeated, but the Lord of Whitestone is dead. Scanlan voices his regrets that now Percy died thinking he didn’t care, that he wasn’t there for the funeral, that the group now thinks he doesn’t care. He can’t fix it.

— Kaylie: ‘your loyalty to those weirdos is one of the endearing things about you. Go to them, don’t leave it like this. You fixed things with me.’

— I think if Scanlan isn’t in a coma it makes VM falling apart in ep 10 more realistic. Instead of only Grog and Pike caring to stay with Scanlan, the team splinters as Percy is dead, Scanlan willingly left, are they even Vox Machina anymore?. (I think you could rework the whole Ripley end fight to have more of VM but I’m just doing Bards Lament, so sure Vex and Vax go fight her alone.)

— Scanlan and Kaylie make the journey back to Whitestone (maybe via a cart, or a joke aboutdrunk wizard who only gets them half way). Either way they don’t get to Whitestone immediately.

— now he can either be back for the Raishan fight, and help out there, or Scanlan can come back just in time for Percy’s resurrection. Maybe it’s really hard — Gilmore and Allura are also helping out Pike and Keyleth, but they need a little more magic, Orthax is sooooo powerful — and then another pair of hands slams onto the resurrection circle — Scanlan has come back in time! Percy is res’d, Scanlan apologises for how he left, they all apologise for taking him for granted, but they soothe those hurt emotions.

— they then all part on good terms like how s3 actually ends.

I don’t think Scanlan is super needed for Thordak or Raishan since he killed Vorugal in s2. If he left midway through s3, his absence would be felt through the second half, so it’s nice to actually see him back in the last episode.

[a-sad-mage]

Circling back to the whole Will Shane possibly having murdered Tom Por thing-

It's like, never brought up again, other than the mental connection we the audience make during 'The New Kid pt 2' when Twist is telling Eli his backstory.

Like did Will actually kill Tom?

Or was it a misunderstanding???

Because it's very well implied that Will actually did do it.

The gang kinda confirmed Tom Por just... Vanished, and no one knew exactly what happened to him?

Sure, Dana says Will Shane murdered her father. But she has no solid proof other than what her father told her.

And we know when she says 'he found out Will Shane was working for the enemy'[not a direct quote] it was about the Shadow Clan. And that Tom was attributing the time Will spent away as time collaborating with them.

In reality, Will was just going top side to spend time with his family. And a small portion was actually spent with the Shadow Clan as they were collaborating in protecting Slugterra and it's secrets. To the point Will was given the Shadow Talker, and the recorded messages Will left for Eli that were curtesy of Shadow Clan.

So they were friendly.

circling back, Dana claimed her father found out about it. But it's clear he didn't know the full truth at that moment.

We know there was a possible confrontation between the two men.

And in that possible confrontation, Dana claims Will murder Tom.

Key point, Dana claims. She doesn't know for serten. She says she knows it's the truth- but here's the thing, no one knows for serten.

Eli rebuffs the idea, and again, the gang is not entirely convinced themselves.

In short, Dana is an unreliable source of information because she doesn't know the whole truth(no one but Will dose) and she's also blinded by her emotions.

Another thing that orb Dana is now using after having taken it, a thing I've taken to calling the Shadow Walker. The thing that let's her walk in the Shadows like she's Shadow Clan.

That to me, didn't belong to Will. Because when Dana makes off with it, none of that Shadow Clan chase her down, nor make an effort to track her down to get it back. (I think, I could be wrong, been a while since I saw the EP)

Key point, they let Eli keep the Shadow Talker. Like they show up, just to tell him that he can keep it. That it once belonged to his dad, and now belongs to him.

They make no real fuss about the Shadow Walker orb.

What if the Shadow Walker was Tom Por's?

What of when Tom confronted Will, and Will told him the truth about his partnership with the Shadow Clan?

It was established that Will and Tom were friends. Good friends, after all, Tom was Wills navigator, and you have to trust the person navigating you.

So what if, when Tom confronted Will, Will told Tom the truth about his dealings with the Shadow Clan?

What if Will took Tom to see the Shadow Clan, and as a show of good faith, and a favor to Will Shane, they gave Tom the Shadow Walker?

But something happened, something bad, that was out of everyone's control, and Tom unexpectedly died, just moments after getting it?

[Mabye even suddenly disappeared? Spirited away by some unknown force, leaving behind the Shadow Walker]

Will, devastated, takes the Shadow Walker and the Shadow Talker and put them in the box, cover it in a metal only a Lavalynx could melt and hid it.

Will for whatever reason, can't bring himself to tell Dana the truth, and he knows his emotions might get the better of him as a dad to a son around her age at the time.

So he makes one more request of the Shadow Clan in regards to the Shadow Walker.

Should Dana Por ever get her hands on it, let her keep it for better or worse.

Again all of this is speculation, the rambling of a mad person who is in desperate need of sleep. I could be wrong. This is mostly crap I thought up while making my OC lore for Slugterra. There is no real evidence.

So take this with a grain of salt.

Anyway, I'm going to bed, I have a Flan to cook tomorrow.

[scarisd3ad]

To the end and back | Daryl Dixon x fem!reader

Chapter twenty seven - I miss you, I’m sorry

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[Warnings] - ANGST, guns, shooting, mentions of blood, cursing, normal twd warnings

Summary - after the world ended you were sure you’d never find love again but a certain archer catches your eyes and changes the entire trajectory of your life.

[A/N] - sorry this took forever to come out :(, also this is a little short, but I’m hoping to get chapter 28 out before any other fic updates so there’s a little more for you guys to read.

‘Home’

S3 ep 10

its late when I wake up the next morning, sunlight already is streaming into the prison. I can already hear the hustle and bustle of the other. normally I'd never sleep this late, I was adjusted to being jolted awake in a cold sweat terrified that I'd fallen asleep while on watch. Caseys no longer curled up next to me. I sit up stretching my limbs as I try and shake the tiredness from my body. once I feel awake enough to hold a conversation with someone else, I get up and make my way downstairs. everyone's sat around in a crooked circle, Glenns sat on the ground with a piece of chalk in his hand drawing out something on the concrete ground.

like a reflex my eyes immediately scan the room, searching for Daryl. within seconds I remember he left, my brain replaying every single memory from the moment he decided to leave, to when I had cried myself to sleep. my face drops as I stare down at my feet. my mind is racing so fast I can't even process what Glenn or carl are saying. all I can think about is Daryl, and the fact that I hate him for leaving me. I hated Daryl at first, I thought he was an asshole, then everything changed. I learned to love everything about him. Even when he would sit there with his arms cross just grunting responses at me, I still loved him. but now I just feel naive for ever thinking he was anything but an asshole.

I'm not pulled out of my own thoughts until I feel a hand rest against my shoulder. my head jolts up to see Glenn standing Infront of me. my brows pull together in a furrow as he asks, "are you alright?" I nod my head almost overenthusiastically as I say "no, no I'm fine, just um...I'm a little tired. y'know?" he takes a sharp breath in as his brows furrowed. he stared at me for a few quick seconds as if he was searching for any sign that I was lying. "Well, I'm...I'm going down into the tombs. if you need anything just ask someone." 

-

about an hour and a half later I'm sat up in my cell, like I had been since Glenn had gone down into the tombs. Casey was sat by my side the whole time, unwilling to leave my side no matter how much I begged her to go get something to eat. her head leaned against my side, only ever whispering something every 20 or 30 minutes. it was always something about Daryl though, 'I miss Daryl' or 'Daryl said he'd come back' or 'why did he leave' all just repeated questions I had already answered a million times over again. "He said he was coming back" she muttered under her breath as her arms angrily crossed over her chest "why'd he lie?" I let out a sigh as I look down at her "he didn't lie just something happened that made him change his mind" I can almost hear her brain tick, tick, ticking as she came up with some kind of response. "If my momma and daddy came back, I wouldn't leave you...id make them stay with us" 

I turn my body towards her. I push a piece of her blonde hair back behind her ear as I say "it's different. your mom and dad I bet were really good people, but Daryl...his brother he's a mean guy. and we don't want mean people living with us, do we?" she nods before saying "is Daryl mean? because he left?" I shake my head before cupping her face in my hands and pressing a soft kiss to her forehead "No baby. Daryl he just...he wanted his brother to be happy. and he's the happiest with Daryl" 

a series of stomps up the stairs and towards our cell makes both our heads turn towards the cell door to see Glenn standing in the doorway. I can tell he's angry by the look on his face and the way his fists are clenching and unclenching. "c'mon you're coming with me" my brows furrow as I look up at him. I push myself to the edge of the bunk before standing up, "where?" I ask as I placed my hands on my hips. "Just out" he muttered under his breath. "What why?!" I exclaimed, he takes a deep breath before saying "there has to be a hole somewhere in the fence, I need to find out how these walkers are getting in." Glenn was going to get himself killed. He was trying to prove something to himself, more than us, that he's capable, that he'll be a good second in command now that Daryl's gone.

Are you coming with me or not?" I let out a sigh before looking back at Casey, who was still sitting on the bottom bunk, silently watching our conversation take place. "fine" I muttered. Glenn silently nodded before immediately leaving the cell. I struggled to follow him as he speed-walked down the stairs and out of the prison.

 Are you coming with me or not?" I sighed before looking back at Casey, who was still sitting on the bottom bunk, silently watching our conversation take place. "fine" I muttered. Glenn silently nodded before immediately leaving the cell. I struggled to follow him as he speed-walked down the stairs and exited the prison.

Hershel follows us out. Glenn attempts to ignore him, just continuing to walk towards the truck. "Glenn?" Glenn doesn't even pause his stride; I turn back towards Hershel, giving him an apologizing shrug before continuing to follow after Glenn. "Glenn!" Hershel shouts this time. Glenn finally stops, staying paused for a short few seconds to show Hershel just how angry he was before slowly turning towards the old man. Hershel hobbles himself over our way before Glenn decides to meet him in the middle to continue the conversation.

"You're not going back to Woodbury, are ya?" Hershel asks, Glenn stays quiet for a second before muttering "No, I'm just goin' out there" Glenn is just mad at the world right now, he is not only angry that what happened to Maggie happened, but he's also mad at himself for letting it happen. This whole mission is just to prove to himself that he's not weak. Prove to Maggie he's not weak. "I'll go with ya'll." Glenn shakes his head, muttering "We've got it" before turning around and beginning to walk back towards the car.

"By yourselves. How could you two possibly think that's a good idea?" Hershel asks, Glenn stops before turning back towards Hershel. "I can't just sit on my hands." I stay frozen behind Glenn, choosing not to take part in this argument between the two. "You went on a simple formula run and got the crap beat out of you. Maggie was attacked." Glenn leans forward, shouting, "You think this is my fault?" Hershel shakes his head "no" but there's no talking Glenn down now that he thinks Hershel's blaming him. He just continues to shout, "I did what I could!" 

I step forward placing a hand on Glenn's shoulder "C'mon Glenn let's just go" I whisper, he shakes his head before slapping my hand off his shoulder "NO! he's trying to fucking-" I grab his shoulder tight enough so he can't slap it off this time before cutting him off "no he's not, just go get in the fucking car" Glenn lets out an angry puff of air before pushing past me to the car.

"Why are you goin' with him?" Hershel whispers once Glenn slams the car door shut. Glenn was going to go no matter what I said. There was no talking him down or telling him not to do something. "he's gonna do it no matter what I say, s'better if I go with him. Make sure he doesn't get hurt."

When I get in the truck, I see Glenn with his arms angrily crossed over his chest. Once the door is shut, he mutters, "So you're on his side?" my brows furrow in confusion "What? what the fuck are you talkin' about Glenn?" he rolls his eyes before muttering "Forget about it" and beginning to drive off.

-

We've gone about halfway around the entire prison, and there's still no sign of a hole. Glenn has the window down and his head stuck out the window, desperately trying to search for a hole in either the fence, the building, or both. "Come on, Glenn, there's no- " I'm cut off by the sound of gunshots.

Pow, pow, pow!

It's too close to be chopped up as some survivors in the town nearby, both Glenn and I pause staring at each other almost as if we're asking each other if we really heard that or if we were making it all up in our heads. The pause is stopped by the sound of more gunshots that immediately make Glenn turn the truck around. We're speeding back towards the front of the prison. We both already know who it is. We pulled back up to the front, seeing that a large truck had run the gate down. There's a group of Woodbury men, including Philip, shooting right along the tree line.

Right as were drive back into the prison, we see Hershel stand up, attempting to limp himself towards safety. Glenn makes a beeline towards him, quickly parking the car and running out to help the elderly man. Michonne also runs towards Hershel, helping him up and to the car before we drive off towards the second gate. It seems like the gunfire has stopped once we've cleared the second gate.

I hop out of the car, taking in the scene in front of me. Axel laying lifeless on the ground, a gunshot wound straight through his head, Carol covered in blood with Casey lying limply in her arms. My heart slams against my chest as I try to make sense of it all. Why would he shoot her? How could he shoot her? She was just a little girl. She was innocent. She had no part in what we had done in Woodbury. She didn't deserve this.

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[minalblood]

The Winchesters 1x13 Review

Let’s just dive into this, it’s been a looong time coming:

-I completely forgot that John had had no idea what to do until he got the letter. I wonder if this is something that may have happened in OG SPN? Also, adding to this, we know that when Henry leaves in SPN, the Winchesters are still in Illinois, but in TW they are already moved. I want to know if there is a thread that matches the OG universe and if so when exactly it diverges. Like, did SPN!John have this feeling of complete loss of purpose when he returned from war? We have some hints to tell us yes, but ultimately we don’t know. Did SPN!John know Murphy? Did Murphy die/was his death impactful to John in SPN as it is in TW? I wish we had a bit more details about the similarities and differences in the universes.

-The fact that TW!John called Dean “sir” hurt me as much as it hurt Dean. You can see the pain. I also want to know how Dean left so quickly. Like suspension of disbelief is fine, but considering we have pictures of him in 1970s Lawrence in his car going place to place makes me think he’s at least somewhat constrained to physicality. So did he just dash? Also how did he get upstairs so quick also? So maybe he isn’t as constrained as I was picturing?

-Speaking of, how did Dean get that letter? I may be misremembering things here cuz it’s been a while since ep 1, but I always assumed that Dean would’ve gotten it from the MOL clubhouse prior to him deciding to interfere right? Is did we ever get this answer? If so though, I want to know how long Dean’s been in TW universe because it’s much longer than I remembered it being and how long did he ponder whether to interact with one of his folks? 

-I fully believe Dean lied about the “one last hunt” to Bobby. There are reasons for this and I will mention it a bit later, but for now I want to mention that he can keep this promise and claim a loophole if he so chooses. He hadn’t left Heaven to hunt, he went searching for something personal and stumbled upon the Akrida. He’s still Dean Winchester, there was no way he’d be able to walk away and not at least try to help, nevermind the Akrida showing up because he and Sam defeated Chuck and he’d likely feel even more responsibility.

-I know this ep is coming full circle on all of aur characters growth, but I need to shout out Samuel here for asking Mary and actually backing away once she clarifies her own uncertainty despite his clear shock. The Samuel we met in the beginning of this wouldn’t have stopped until this devolved into a huge fight because Mary isn’t doing what he wants from her. Same to Millie, she just subtly prompted John about Mary leaving hunting and how he’s dealing without badgering or pushing. I also deeply appreciate both Samuel and Millie here inquiring about their kids’ emotional states, great progress. 

-Joan mention! I cannot wait to get into this once she shows up fully.

-And speaking of growth of characters, I also love that for all we see everyone having evolved and developed, they are still to some degree who we met: case in point Mary’s knee jerk reaction if to withhold information. She ends up not really doing this, even trying to have a proper conversation with John later, but her reflex is still to withhold. It’s just that now she’s aware enough that she’ll change her approach.

-Adore the foreshadowing for the Akrida’s defeat “anything not of this Earth”. Especially with the sheer focus on Dean from both in-universe from the Scoobies and out of universe from the fans. 

-Speaking of things I love though, can we just give a full round of applause for Ada not lying and keeping the secret about the spell from everyone? How many times has stuff exactly like this led to worse outcomes exactly because people didn’t communicate? And what’s more, it’s exactly because she mentions this that Lata gets a head start into a solution (second round of applause for this, especially since it’s so rare that we get actual contingencies set up before the really risky move is executed rather than scrambling for a patch work after the fact) and they don't end up using the spell until it’s really unavoidable which leads to the third round of applause for Carlos who prevents Ada from preemptively using the spell (hello direct answer to Jack turning himself into a bomb for Chuck and the plan derailing completely cuz they jumped the shark with it).

-Something to note though: souls function differently in TW apparently. In SPN the closest similar spell we have to what Ada has is Lily Sunder’s angelic magic which also uses fragments of soul as fuel, however unlike SPN where Lily burns piece by piece but ultimately still has the remaining soul after the spells, in TW they clarify that Ada’s soul will slowly dissipate if they take a fragment of it. It's so interesting to see the difference. I wonder why? Maybe souls evolved differently here, maybe the spell, by virtue of being one of Rowena’s (be it her own making a la soul bomb to kill Amara and save the sun or Book of the Damned bomb using your own life as sacrifice to close hell) makes it act differently? I really want to know. 

-The bar being filled with Akrida possessed people is such a call back to the demon filled bars of SPN days and I love it.

-I do think that Joan knowing Dean couldn't interfere too much/make waves is very interesting. Especially since the Akrida are a Chuck designed failsafe.

-Also how did they get him into the portal? I need to know. 

-Joan saying “his body will be torn to shreds for centuries” is doing multiple things for me. One, it’s recalling hell - especially having it be connected to Dean in pain for an extended period. Two, it’s giving us a hint of how Dean will survive while maintaining the stakes for the Scoobies (and to some degree for us since at this point on a 1st run through since we didn’t know how the portal would interact with Dean - dead or not he had a body that could be interacted with).

-“I’m not Akrida. I was human once” is sooo much fun to consider. Joan is very much this amalgamation of so many things, her former humanity, her ties to the Akrida and all that monster essence, and she’s essentially done it to herself, created Frankenstein’s monster outta Frankenstein. No wonder it went off the rails. She and Cuthbert Sinclair are two sides of a coin for me to be honest in this regard.

-It’s also here at the bar that Joan’s main strategy for dealing with the Scoobies gets shown, trying to appeal to the versions of them she has info on. Something that to be honest would’ve worked at the beginning of the season, even maybe halfway through the season might’ve worked. She tries with Samuel first, bringing up the hunting legacy of her family, then with Mary and John. Then when she gets to the clubhouse she goes for Lata, and in the final fight she once more hits John, Samuel and now Carlos. And she clearly pushes very specific trauma triggers for each, focusing most on John’s anger and Mary’s disillusionment with hunting because I think those are the ones she most relates to. Meanwhile with Lata and Carlos she almost pushes opposite by trying to point out how their changes are detrimental. By this I mean, with Mary and John she’s trying to reignite those feelings in them because she can tell they are still there to some degree (as mentioned they’ve both grown but still have a while to go) meanwhile for Lata and Carlos their growth was more foundational since they actively tried to heal versus Mary and John’s pushback against the healing. I hope this makes sense to y’all.

-Having Joan’s motivation be keeping hunters alive initially is so much fun to dig into. Everything she says to them about why she’s doing what she’s doing is something we’ve heard people talk about before, especially in SPN, especially Dean tbh. We’ve seen Dean struggle with the endless loss, with the weight of the responsibility to keep humanity safe, the toll saving the world took on him. Having Joan act as this dark mirror was a great choice. But also Dean would have never reached this point. Even at his darkest moments, he always drew a clear line about what he’s willing to sacrifice - yes, he also never had to deal with the loss of literally everyone everyone, there was always at least one thread, one person, but still. 

-Lata fighting against the Akrida possessing her? Absolute queen behavior! Love her so much. Also Joan reducing her choice to be a pacifist as a black or white thing is very in line with what I was trying to say above. I can exemplify better here though so bare with me. Lata’s pacifism is both a very personal choice that means a lot to her and gives her personal meaning, is a part of her values. But it also used to be a literal blockage for her before ep 11 where any type of violence coming from her side reminded her of her father especially and of that trauma. More specifically, Lata also felt she had to be a pacifist otherwise she would be exactly like her abusive father. Ep 11 had her confronting her trauma and coming to terms with it, something she was already trying bit by bit to do, and re-evaluate what pacifism means to her. So Joan trying to reduce Lata attacking her to say that hunting has tainted Lata, is to completely ignore the complexity of Lata’s choice to be a pacifist and to ignore the very complicated relationship that Lata has to fighting. In this instance, Lata choosing to fight is a testament of how rooted in her sense of self she has become. She can fight back and not feel the guilt she used to, not feel like it’s a failure on her side to do so because anger and fighting do have a purpose and are important sometimes - like when your life is being threatened. 

-Having Joan’s lover be the final thing that got her down the path of destruction is absolutely a choice on the writer’s side that I adore - definitely tying into the SPN!John of it all. I also find it interesting from another perspective. When I 1st watched the bar scene, Joan’s like of “that’s the John I know” had settled into my brain very differently to the point that I was almost certain they were going to reveal that Joan is actually another version of Mary a la Apocalypse world Mary who lost both her family and John, but much earlier. Basically, Joan is continuously this amalgamation of multiple things at once, the worst parts of each.

-Humanity wasting their second chance speech is giving Jigsaw to me tbh. I vibe.

-I love them figuring out that they can use the journal to bring Dean back, but imagine the version of this story where unsteady they use the journal to defeat Joan. It would’ve been hilarious.

-Love that the one Akrida that has had it out for John especially is the one possessing Lata btw. It makes the vitriol feel more personal and makes me think of both the Leviathan’s who hated playing Sam and Dean and of the disdain Lucifer has for humanity, but especially the Winchester brothers. I love this being another creature who is so pissed to deal with Winchester adjacent people that it’s begun just personally having a vendetta against all of Earth. 

-“How many Campbells and Winchesters have to die” goes so unbelievably hard. Especially in the finale of the show now rewatching, but even on 1st watch I remember being hit right in the heart by that line. It’s the fact that I actually completely understand that reasoning and even agree with it that makes the Akrida and Joan especially so fascinating to me. She does have a point is the thing, especially considering the very personal interest God has had in the Campbells and Winchesters bloodlines. And following this up by talking about how history and legacy are playing a heavy role in this continuous suffering is also fantastic, because it is true, but it’s not the whole picture either. It’s not the only legacy and history the Campbells and Winchesters have to tell.

-And once again Chuck had done what he does best: created another world ending being that he then locked away to ensure the world doesn’t get destroyed ahead of time. He did this with Amara, Lucifer, the Leviathans, the Shedim, angels and demons getting thrown in the Empty counts too, the monsters being thrown in Purgatory also falls under this pattern of behavior. He really is a one trick pony on every level.

-Adore that Ada didn’t even hesitate to use the spell to save Lata. And even more love for the fact that everyone is sharing info so they can make a plan together, no one going off on their own like a moron, god the satisfaction of seeing this is unmatched.

-Cutting off Mary before she can say anything to John as they’re saying goodbye essentially, after he more or less poured his heart out? A choice on the writers part that I wholeheartedly agree with. Love the implications here.

-I also adore that it’s a swordfight. This show has gone out of its way to ensure minimal gun use and I think it was a great choice. Also love that all three of them, Samuel, John and Carlos get attacked at once by at least 2 Akrida. 

-BABY!!! (this was the only reaction needed here - just BABY!!!)

-I wonder if Josie existed in this universe? Like did Joan just get rid of the MOL before Henry and Josie went to the church and meet Abaddon? Does Abaddon just not exist in this timeline? Did Henry even try to do field work in this universe? I have questions!

-Dean saving Mary will never not make me emotional ok? That’s what he’s wanted since he was 4! 

-I also love that we have the most roundabout way of referencing Sam here. I will go into more detail why I especially love it, but just know I do.

-I do hate though that Dean still looks surprised that he got into Heaven and the reminder that he’s dead. I hate remembering that 15x20 is a thing that happened still. 

-Living for Dean instantly jail-breaking Heaven though and then basically breaking his parole to interfere when he found the Akrida. Of course he couldn’t help himself, it’s Dean, he has never been able to ignore when something is wrong and he can help.

-Jack saying it’s time for Dean to return to his own story… I don’t disagree but I do object to the “there’ll be peace” mainly cuz Dean clearly isn’t done. And now I need t go into this a second. Because Jack is treating this situation with the Akrida as though this was Dean’s goal here. But the Akrida are the side quest, the thing that derailed the actual thing Dean’s been looking for when he took off from Heaven. Dean isn’t done. This may have helped him make peace with a chapter of his story, but that’s just it. It’s a chapter, the one about this parents’ tragedy. But he’s still looking. He didn’t leave heaven cuz he was looking specifically for John and Mary, he left the second he say Baby with no clear objective but the knowledge that he had to go. He found some meaning in his restlessness by looking for a version of his folks where they’re happy, but that’s just part of it. And you can see it by how he responds to Bobby in the beginning, how he talks to Jack here at the end. He isn’t done. 

-“They’re family” is one of my favorite moments in this finale tbh. Because not only does he say this explicitly, he does so after introducing them by name. Which brings us back to what I was saying about Sam. In choosing to not name Sam to the gang, but explicitly naming Jack and Bobby who are Dean’s chosen family, it narratively sends a message that goes in direct opposition to what 15x20 was pushing. And to be clear, we do get Sam mentioned by name too, because Sam isn’t important to Dean just because he’s blood related to him, Sam is just as much part of Dean’s chosen family, but Sam is mentioned to Jack and Bobby, who, like us the audience, already know this information about Sam’s importance as opposed to Jack and Bobby who (and I am aware we the audience is aware of their importance too) are representative of all the other chosen family that gets pushed aside in 15x20 in favor of the blood relations. Sam here is important because of what he as a person means too the 3 of them, not because he’s Dean’s blood relative, but it does bare repeating that Jack and Bobby, not blood relatives, occupy the same level of importance in Dean’s life. This went so far in patching up some of the bullshit 15x20 peddled imo. I love it.

-I do gotta say I still think Jack was changed by the god power and I still don’t like it. Chuck won theory or not, Jack is visibly acting different from what we’ve become used to in SPN and that is a sadness I cannot begin to explain to me. He also deserved to live his life free of all this responsibility thrust upon him since he was conceived.

-Oh, I am so emotional about Dean imparting his journal to John and the Colt to Mary. I was mentioning earlier about legacy and history and this is exactly the part that contributes to that discussion. John, the MOL legacy gets the journal - the theoretical help more or less, especially with Dean’s journal having focused, as opposed to SPN!John’s very practical entries, on the emotional and mental side of hunting and how to handle all that hunting will throw at you. And Mary, the Hunter legacy gets the gun - the practical help, but even here, having the Colt be one of the only guns in the series makes it stand out without you needing to know the full significance of it being the Colt, and moreso, Dean is giving it as a protective measure as we the audience know it’s the only thing that can kill the yellow eyes demons. More than that, he is also actively healing with these both of the trauma’s SPN!John and SPN!Mary impart to him - with John the emotional absence and with Mary the physical absence while still helping these versions of them John with his still existing anger issues and Mary, as she’s navigating this no-hunting life, having the means to ensure she survives it. And on top of this, he is reclaiming the legacy/history of SPN!John’s journal and SPN!Mary’s death this way. I love everything about this choice.

-Now the ending scene. 1. The fact that we full on get to see that Ada will eventually be fine, adore it! 2. The reference to the famous beach episode wth, unmatched joy about it. 3. Mary and John actually compromising and finding a way to meet in the middle with everything? Fantastic. 4. Millie letting John go easily? Such a departure from the acidic words she’d thrown his way at the beginning of the show. 5. Samuel actually letting Mary know he’s going and saying he’ll keep in contact? Same vibes as Millie, love to see it. 6. Mary’s iconic baby blue car? I have missed it so much!

-And now, Ramble On closes us off and what a fantastic choice that they got it. It truly is the perfect song for this story. Because it makes it clear that this isn’t an ending. It’s a moving on to something else once you’ve finished whatever/wherever you were at. Dean’s story here has come to a close but he’s moving on to something else, he’s still behind Baby’s wheel searching. John and Mary’s story has ended for now, especially this chapter that had interference after interference from on high (Chuck’s especially via the Akrida and then Dean’s trying to clean up Chuck’s mess) and they can move on both from Lawrence geographically and from this predetermination that said interference was pushing via calling back to SPN as much as it was, now they can live their own lives, like Mary said, she saw every possible version of her and chooses to make her own path instead. (I do wonder what Dean saw, he was there much longer than her). So yea, the story has ended and the story goes on. Perfect choice for song closer.

-EDIT: I forgot to add about the title... oops! Basically, it's kinda tied to what I was saying about the song choice as well aka it's not an ending so it's not a goodbye per se. Something you have echoed actually by Mary and John twice in the episode. And it works as a pushback toward 15x20.

And so I am done too and figuring out what I’m moving on to! I’m sure there are still things that I can come up with to say about this show, and probably will continue to for a long while yet, but the reviews are done now and I’ve said most everything I wanted most to say so til I get something else I feel like mentioning, see y’all in the reblogs! Hope this was fun for you and I deeply appreciate all those who have been patient and stuck around to hear my opinion on this. Bye bye!

@shallowseeker, @noybusiness,@inspnity17, @pleaseraisemefromperdition, @doctorprofessorsong

[moony-2001]

Lore Olympus ep. 256 critique

A note from last episode

One thing I forgot to mention in my last episode critique is why would Apollo even be allowed to take the throne? Hera still exists. Zeus has brothers who could step up. Other legitimate children. Obviously, Apollo is the “de facto” ruler for the sole reason that the plot needs to be driven forward somehow, but realistically Apollo would be, like, the last person who’s allowed to step up. Speaking of which, where is Artemis? She knows what Apollo is like. Why doesn’t she step up if they’re letting literally anyone rule?

Ah, yes, of course. Our fearless protector of women, everyone. I have so many things I could say about Artemis and her portrayal in this comic but for the sake of keeping this post relatively short, let's move on.

The fucking nightie

Oh. My. God. The nightgown.

I literally had to put down my phone when I first saw her in this. The rage I felt and still feel when I look at her.

Persephone is a queen and she just found out her brother-in-law/supreme ruler is in critical condition after being poisoned with a "mystery substance". Jfc have a little decency. And I don't want to hear "Oh WeLl ShE oBvIoUsLy DiDn'T hAvE tImE tO cHaNgE" or "sHe DoEsN't HaVe AcCeSs To ClOtHiNg" because she so obviously did. Hades is wearing a full-ass suit. She had time to cut her hair and "accessorize" with a stupidly oversized hat and cape. She is a QUEEN. She has access to all the clothing she could possibly want. Persephone has no excuse for showing up in a skimpy little nightgown.

I just-

Persephone is not a good queen

Let’s be real here. Persephone is a terrible queen. What have we, as readers, actually seen her do for the betterment of the underworld.

She doesn't even follow through on her "promise" to help with the influx of the dead. Instead, she focuses on her own personal problem of her powers taking a massive shit because of a deal she made with an unknown being (which was her own choice). I mean, who could've foreseen the consequences of making a shoddy deal with being you've literally had no previous interactions with. Not me, that’s for damn sure /s

Let's see what Persephone has done thus far leading up to and during her reign as queen:

terrorized lower-class citizens

caused the return of Kronos

caused a child deity to be held hostage/abused by Kronos

Tartarus being controlled by Kronos (caused by Persephone)

the mortal realm dying

still hasn't established Elysium

verbally abused recently deceased mortals because they're confused and haven't provided a resounding yes to help with... whatever it was she was trying to do.

lots of sex

letting 2 beings who have no business listening to a leadership meeting listen in anyways because it's "background noise"

Yep, all the actions of a great queen.

Also, side note, when have we ever seen Hecate be nosey? Please correct me if I'm wrong, but Hecate has pretty much always looked out for her best interests and tried not to get involved in others' drama. Am I surprised that Rachel is changing a character's personality? No. Am I disappointed? At this point, also no. Let's continue on.

The meeting

The meeting was certainly… something. I will say I loved Apollo getting his shit rocked by Ares. But after that, Apollo says this:

I mean... he's kinda right? Yes, it was all a big ploy to get specifically Persephone there, but Apollo isn't wrong. Persephone does have a habit of hiding in the underworld and letting Hades deal with her shit instead of facing her problems head-on. Yet another fantastic trait to tack onto her resume as queen.

And on that note, we circle back to the beginning of this post. After Hades has his big-boy temper tantrum, Athena and Amphitrite rightfully point out a few things:

Athena is right, Apollo has no claim to the throne, not when Hera is still around and especially not as a bastard child of Zeus. In terms of a line of succession (especially since all of his children excluding Hebe are grown), Athena would be the best candidate for this temporary position. She's the goddess of wisdom. Who else could fit this role? Poseidon and Amphitrite are busy ruling the oceans, Hades and Persephone are off doing whatever, Ares is all brawn and no brain, and Hephestus wants nothing to do with his family. I mean, we haven't actually had any kind of serious interaction involving him since like halfway through s2 I'm not counting those 2 little portions in s3 with Aphrodite.

And once again, we have a character that is so close to figuring it out but I guess we can't be affording too many brain cells to Amphitrite since she was to share with all the rest of the characters. Also, rip Aphitrite and all her pretty loops and swirls. I miss the individuality the characters had back in s1.

Before the meeting can continue any further, Demeter bursts in deeply distressed and crying out:

B-bbb-but how can we tell if the mortal realm is actually dying if we don't have a handy little message at the end of the chapter that clarifies whether or not this is a metaphor???? Rachel, you know your audience only has the reading comprehension skills of a kindergartener, how do you expect us to cope??

Sorry lol.

Final thoughts

Surprisingly I found this chapter to be a little short, but I don’t know if that’s just me. Again I wouldn’t say that this chapter is any worse than 255 but it’s not great either, y’all know the drill by this point.

Until my next post! I’m hoping to be all caught up by early next week? And then I can start posting more fun things that aren’t chapter critiques 👀

[trutrustories]

STUDY IN LOKI ROMANCE

Part 6: Conclusion

Since we're only a few days away from the last episode, I decided to COUNT DOWN everything we´ve got so far ( that can be interpreted very easily as romantic ) and discuss what the actual fuck is going on with second season. Because even though I shipped lokius practically from S1E2, I absolutely did NOT expect this kind of development. (Not that I´m complaining)

Warning: This is gonna be LONG post, lots of screenshots, lots of SPOILERS, lot of "oh-my-god-they-so-cute" language, and little bit of meta.

I originally thought that this post would be everything at once, but since I have just too many screenshots this time around, I´ll have to split it. so every post will be one episode. Color coding means:

IIIIIIIIII = anything, that coud potentialy be just acting choice.

IIIIIIIIII = everything else (tzn.: whatever was written, and/or carefully prepared by filmmakers. )

side note: I already wrote, about how amazing it is, that Mobius is unable to fight but fights anyway and how beautifuly, and ridiculously brave he is HERE. But this is about Loki/Mobius interactions, so I´ll try my best not to talk about THAT. (Even when I´m really happy, that s2 continues with this formula and Mobius is still his completely defenseless while aggressively brave self. I love him, btw.) Here is count down for every episode:

EPISODE 1 HERE

EPISODE 2 HERE

EPISODE 3 HERE

EPISODE 4 HERE

EPISODE 5 HERE

Sooooo 51 lokius moments, that were completely and utterly unexpected, but yet here they are. Why? Let´s start with over look at what we´ve actualy got: Things that could technically be just acting choices and Tom´s and Owen´s chemistry together:

unexpected exhibition of touches

Distressed God and his Happy Face (at O. B. office)

Loki finding Mobius´s joke amusing

Loki´s head tilt and smile at Mobius (in pie scene)

"They say opposites attract. NO."

Another exhibition of touches (ep 3)

"let´s be as close as we physically can" challange (at Timley´s spech)

Loki glow up (Loki fixing himself for Mobius/Don)

Loki being very nervous and stuttering while talking to Mobius/Don.

Loki gently helping Mobius/Don through the time door. Things that are deffinitely NOT just acting choices:

"Mobius It´s me!"

"Tell me, you recognize me!"

scene in in an elevator

Mobius and Loki talking to OB.

bickering, like married couple, part 1

"Mobius if I don´t make it back" and "You´ll make it back".

Mobius risking his life SKIN for loki and refusing to give up on him.

Loki saves Mobius in an epic fashion and they end up in a hug:

matching suits part 1

Loki defending /saving Mobius from Brad (with magic!)

Mobius and Loki struggling to assemble IKEA furniture- sorry Tapmad together

" And he knows..."

Loki being very concerned for Mobius after his outburst, saying that It´s okay, and then suggests having pie

Bickering like married couple (part 2)

The whole freaking pie scene!

Loki and Mobius: mischievous duo (Breaking Brad)

Loki, not following Sylvie (at the end of episode 2)

matching suits part 2

"And they lived happily ever after..." circle transition

Loki and Mobius enjoying popcorn:

Also... Bickering like married couple (part 3)

"You know sometimes I forget, that you are one of them... Blows my mind!"

Mobius supporting Loki in using magic...

Victor/Ravonna - the most transparent mirror ever:

THE TANDEM BIKE

Loki going with Mobius, not even thinking about it anymore.

changing clothes together

Bickering like married couple (part 4)

The "misunderstanding trope"

Pie scene number two

Shot with only two of them, right before the end of ep4

Loki looking for Mobius in PIE ROOM

Loki Time slipping to the theater room

Mobius/Don casually informing Loki, he´s a SINGLE dad and telling him his entire work schedule

Loki time slipping to Mobius again (right when he started to be hopefull and Happy, that O. B. will be able to help him.

Mobius/Don dropping everything and forgeting about his two mischievous sons so he can give Loki full attention

Wanna buy my wife´s jetski?

"A beautiful union of form and function"

"You saved my life, when I first arrived. You saw something in me, that I hadn´t seen in myself."

"I want my friends back. I don´t want to be alone."

"It was more about what I wanted."

"It´s not about where, when or why. It´s about WHO."

So... let´s scrap the theory, that romantic tention is created only by chemistry between actors (though it IS amazing and also key ingredient) and their acting choices. Because so far, screenplay, and cinematography was supporting their story as well. I feel, like I should clarify, that I do not expect Lokius kiss, or blatant confirmation to happen. I was here during Johnlock debacle. And I was here, when Destiel ended... the way it ended. And I refuse to put in creators (especially when it comes to marvel/disney) any hope, that I know can be crushed so very easily. I´m not doing this shit again. If it happens? WOW! I´m gonna be surprised. very pleasantly surprised. I will litteraly never shut up about it

But I do not expect it. Not even now, when I saw, what are creators of Loki able to put out in the world. Like this for example:

Or this, very brutal death scene:

And yeah, I am avare, Loki officialy CAN have male love interest, because it was confirmed in a text, that he´s a bi.

Also there was this (very misleading) article few years ago:

Still. I can´t bring myself to hope for anything explicit. But I absolutely understand anyone, who have that hope. And I know, how great feeling it is, while it lasts. Anyway. I´m gonna look at all possible options, I can think of. Even some, I feel, are more possible then others. And maybe answer is not just one. It could be more things at once.

Explanation number one: Creators took notes on how season 1 was received. And they saw, that Mobius is very popular, well-liked character, his interactions with Loki were favorite moments according to majority of an audience, and decided to lean more into that, for viewer´s sake.

Same with sylvie. Once they saw her romantic relationship with Loki isn´t that popular, they decided to give her her own agency, own story instead.

Explanation number two: They genuinely think, they are showing deep friendship between two bros and nothing more. I mean... Loki getting close circle of friends and wanting to stay with them is a one of the bigest themes this season. They are trying to make a point about Loki changing bacause of them (and probably making sacrifice for them) But there is still very intentional difference between his relationship with Mobius and everybody else. Mobius is obviously the most important one of the bunch.

Explanation number three:

Creators want romantic scene with Sylvie and Loki to be big surprise at the end, so they tried to show as much problems and conflicts between them, as they could and limited their screentime together.

But I personaly think, this would be stupid for many reasons:

Making Mobius and Loki focus this season caused people to rooth for them, and be invested in their relationship more.

They showed multiple times, that Sylvie wants from life very different things, then Loki and their philosophical views differ greatly.

It doesn´t look like creators put enough effort into building up this kind of ending to be satisfying. It would just feel like they´re trying to surprise / shock audience. Explanation number four: They think that what they are doing with Mobius and Loki is father/son dynamic. (I´m sorry, but this would be just hilarious. If this is the case, I would love to know, what they were thinking, when they decided to leave Owen´s line: "You´re just a little pussycat" in there. Or when they look at all those acting choices and said YES, THANK YOU. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED.)

Explanation number five: They´re queerbaiting the hell out of us. And their master plan is to make us all watch and having hope and then they will throw in the finale some last minute no homo explanation and wil laugh in our faces.

(I suppose I don't have to say how much I like this option *sarcasm*)

Explanation number six:

Creators would like to make Lokius canon, but they are restricted / they´re not allowed to. So they decided to go as far, as they can. To give us little (big) nods, to give us those beutiful scenes. To double down on everything lokius related. And they know what they can get away with before casual viewers notice that there is something gay happening. (I mean... it looks like they can get away with anything but kiss at this point :D Like seriously. I saw people talking about how beautiful Dean and Castiel´s friendship was EVEN after finale, so...)

Explanation number seven:

They are doing Love triangle thing, where they will try ultimitely "please everyone" by giving us some scene that could be potentialy seen as romantic between Loki and Sylvie AND between Loki and Mobius (while leaving it for interpretation) In Czech republic, we call it: "when the wolf ate well, but goat is still alive."

Explanation number eight: They ARE able to make Lokius canon, but they actually like podtext more, then posibility to make it transparent, and that is just the way, they want to tell this story.

Explanation number nine: They were planning to make Lokius a thing (if not from the start, then after season one) and they made whole season this way, so more people would rooth for them. And it will end with some form of confirmation of their love story. ( as I mentioned above, I can´t see this happening, but that is my bad experience talking. If it happens, I deffinitely won´t be mad about being wrong here, I can promise you that :D )

_______

I gues we will know more about their intent after episode 6. Right now, I´m actually just hoping, that story will stay consistent as much as it can. And characters won´t die. On the contrary I hope, they will end up happy, because they did earn it. I have to say, that I enjoyed this season even more then the first. And I really do hope, that finale wont make me change my mind. Regardles of intention, this show is high quality and it is obvious how much care was poured into every aspect of this season from effects, cinematography, costums, sets, music, acting... I think, that this show is a best thing marvel did in a long, LONG time.

Also please, pleaseeee let this season end at the place, where it will be possible to see Loki and Mobius in other MCU project (I would honestly watch anything, where they appear together)

And lastly: If it doesn´t end the way you wanted, please please don´t let anger to rule your actions. Do criticize as much as you want, but please don´t harrass anybody. At the end of the day, creators of this show are also just people. Don´t say anything, you wouldn´t say into their faces. If it will end badly, watch your favourite, comfort gay show, celebrate how much Lokius fix-it fanfiction we´ll have! And how much art already exists because of those first five episodes.

Or take that frustration and turn it to motivation: maybe you can create something better!

I was there in 2017.

Please just don´t let TV show ruin your whole year and your creativity.

for people who got here and read it all: I really appreciate it! Thank you! 💚

PS: Sorry for my english and all the grammer mistakes I´m aware it´s not ideal 😅

[subtlehaz]

there’s so so much still to explore s8 like I have so many thoughts oh my god

Mara !!!!! and that bitchy councilwoman

Gerard obvs 😒 sidenote: do we think he’s in cahoots with the councilwoman from hell and why did the chief do fuck all to protect the 118?? do we think the chief is also in cahoots bc he wants to run for office? the speculation is speculating

Mr. Eddie Diaz absolute menace to himself and others: still needs to accept that a) Shannon wanted a DIVORCE and B) THE WILL and C) Christopher coming back and repairing their relationship omfg pls put them in family therapy I beg I want my faves reunited D) I want him speaking more Spanish !!!!! we got a tiny little ‘dios’ this episode but still

Buck ??? pls for the love of god let this man exist outside his love interests I wanna see him succeed in life and hobbies and work and peace and NO ROMANCE FOR A MINUTE for gods sake give him a dog or something but not another LI

Bobby like,,, can we get some confirmed closure idk like man’s was suicidal one episode then almost died and now is back within the next episode has he PROCESSED HAS ATHENA HAVE I

MAY AND HARRY back together again!!!! pls expand their storylines like how was Harry??? Not home during the fire was he having a sleepover like omg

Madney. Let them live. Let them remain happy moisturized at peace. I want a goofy gossip episode of the dream team and Jee like keep them wholesome it’s the least you can do after their bs wedding

RAVI MAIN RAVI MAIN GIVE US RAVI BEGINS

I miss captain mehta I wouldn’t mind a visit from him. or Linda in dispatch. oh my god or Josh??? we haven’t seen most of dispatch since the wedding? I’m sad

just. idk fighting actual fires lmao. I miss when they all did their actual jobs. I miss when we got the goofy 9-1-1 calls at the start of the ep and the super emosh voiceovers at the end of the episode like that’s when we were a real country

OH MY GOD ALBERT

also:

will we ever circle back to Denny’s father storyline? will Hen’s mom ever return?

is sperm donation baby gonna make a comeback? bc the top 5 recap promo before this season started brought that up and I haven’t forgotten 911 Instagram I haven’t forgotten 10 bucks says it serves to remove Tommy when Buck learns he doesn’t want kids

okay that’s it thank u for reading my brain blast

[berrypass-de-murdler]

94. A Ritual Killing

Judging by the title I wonder what will happen in this episode

Anyway, here's a dump of goat lord trivia (and what sets him apart from other tinos)

His design is somewhat based on young Mr Small from The Amazing World of Gumball (my favorite show E V E R)

He was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult

He literally has a squishmallow of himself named Squishtino

He has a single white spot by his tail

He has heavy scarring on his chest, both from ep. 50 and from long before

He bleats like an actual goat when very happy

If you give him a belly rub he kicks his feet and squeals!!

His default (work) outfit is his least favorite outfit

He has been bodyshamed quite a bit and is insecure about his appearance

Cartoon Irratino was born with his canon name pronunciation, although upon entering the Deduction College Tuscany misread it as 'Irrashino'. He now generally goes by this pronunciation and is uncomfortable when referred to by his legal name.

Uncle Midnight is the only person in the series who actually calls him 'Goat Lord'

BOOP

Alr onto episode

DON'T READ THE EPISODES UNTIL YOU'VE FINISHED THE FIRST BOOK!!

Immediately, a random hand grabs Logico and yanks him into the back room!!

LOGICO: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUU!

Five cloaked figures stand in the way.

LOGICO: Of course. A kidnapping, to add to everything else.

The lights go out dramatically. The cloaked figures dance around Logico in a circle, horribly. And then they sing… EVEN MORE HORRIBLY!!

PEOPLE: WE ARE THE VERY SPECIAL VERY SPECIAL MAGIC MAGIC CULT WE WILL NOT INVITE YOU NOT INVITE YOU NOT AT NOT AT ALL! BUT SINCE YOU CAME TO PASS… AND CAME ACROSS OUR PAAAAAAATH! WE’RE LEGALLY OBLIGED TO TURN THE TABLES AND WE’LL RENDER YOU UNDEEEEEAD.

There’s a scream, the lights come back on, and one of the cloaked figures is dead.

LOGICO: Oh thank god.

The survivors throw off their hoods. It’s Tangerine!

LOGICO: Of course.

It’s Marengo!

LOGICO: Okay…

It’s Applegreen!...

LOGICO: Wh…y…?

It’s Smoky?!

LOGICO: What the fuck?  SMOKY: Huhuhuhuhuh, BUSTED!!

The victim, thank goodness, was just some human. How dare a human intervene with named character business? Logico already knows there was a good reason behind this one. But it needs to be solved regardless.

APPLEGREEN: I’d do anything to make my father proud again. LOGICO: That’s already suspicious as is. What prompted you to say that? APPLEGREEN: … 

Logico sits down and admires the body for a while. The way the blood stains the floor is oddly beautiful.

LOGICO: I wonder… could someone have done this just to make a blood painting for the floor? APPLEGREEN: That’s… that’s… [whimper] LOGICO: What? APPLEGREEN: That’s one of the dumbest things you’ve ever said… 

On the floor already is, indeed, a blood painting - though not from this human. It is just scribbles and randomly-placed circles, with Irratino’s logo prominently shining in the middle.

LOGICO: That’s… [...]

That reminds Logi that it’s time to call Goat Lord. But there’s no answer. Logico is quick to assume he’s dead. But then there’s a text.

“Logico! I got your call! Sorry, I was pooping :’>” 

LOGICO: Did not need that information.

“Stay safe! And remember: the person with a heavy candle wanted to kill on behalf of the Industry!”

LOGICO: Oh you dumb goat. Who else would capitalize ‘industry’? 

Logico thinks about him for a long time. And he does what his bf would do - go with his gut.

LOGICO: [ahem] Applegreen. I hate to be rude, but you have done a very poor job covering up your crime. APPLEGREEN: I’m sorry… I knew there was only supposed to be four of us. OTHERS: [mumbling in agreement] [long silence] APPLEGREEN: HAHA!! That’s right! I’m a traitor!!!!

Everyone gasps except for Logico.

LOGICO: You’ve killed people before, I kind of already kn- APPLEGREEN: I’ve sold you out for my boss! I’ve GROWN to identify his interests as my own!  TANGERINE: I don’t know what she’s saying. APPLEGREEN: Enough being ‘ASSISTANT APPLEGREEN’! Enough having ‘ASS’ in the title! Now, I’m AGENT APPLEGREEN!!!!

She strikes a dramatic superhero pose. 

APPLEGREEN: [squeal] I have to call my dad! 

She runs off. 

TANGERINE: I’d like to take over Hollywood. LOGICO: Yes yes, who DOESN’T. MARENGO: Ugh, I can’t get that song out of my head! We are the very special very special super magic- wait. No. It was we are the very very no… that’s not it. It was more like LOGICO: JUST STOP TALKING FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. … Sorry.

He finally notices the SWH below Irratino’s logo on the blood painting.

LOGICO: What does THAT mean? TANGERINE: You’re looking at it upside down. That’s HMS - the Hollywood mystery society.

Logico’s lens shatters and he falls backwards in slow-motion. 

LOGICO: [weak] Of course Irratino couldn’t do something so terrible… 

He gets up and tears out the door as fast as penguin-ly possible. 

LOGICO: IRRATINOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

The end!

Tangerine says Y O S

Six more episodes to go!!!!!!!!!

The power of Goat Lord compels you!

See you next time murdlers!

[blackdigitalrose]

Thurs - Maho Girls Precure! - Ep 7 - 10

In the attempt to catch up, it's another brief speed run ep review ^^"

Ep 7

Side characters shouldn't be that pretty if they are just going to be throw away background characters...

Any way, the odd rush continues and another stone is found, what are the writers doing in the second half with so much crammed into what would be the equivalent of an opening arc?

Animation wise it looked nice but so far, this may be the dumbest name of an attack so far. (And that's saying something, makes no sense Spicy is already a contender) And that was it, nothing much actually happened. It's all been quite copy and paste since ep 1.

Ep 8

This ep starts of slightly better as you get to see the antics of this little group once more and they do bounce off each other well. Even Emily's drawback could have made for a nice little arc if we were with them for longer.

So basically a Venus fly trap? Quite the deception by the writers, it was setting it up to be something really scary but then it turned out to be utterly harmless. Could have had the villains take the week off.

But nothing of note happens, they find yet another stone, this time a support, befriend and heal a baby Pegasus and completed the task of the day.

However, it was nice that Liko used Mirai's trick from before and Mirai pretty much pushed the teachers message from the start of the ep to get the job done. Little nods and throwbacks that make eps go full circle can be nice when done right.

Ep 9

Nevermind Liko and Mirai, this was a great little ep delving more into this trio who we may or may not ever see again. If this is really it, talk about a waste?

Liko is the only one who ever sits on her broom like that? Wonder why?

And for a mere 9 eps, that's quite the escalation on things, if this was a mid-season issue, sure, it would make a whole lot more sense, this level of separation anxiety seems too early.

Ep 10

Plus side, it was a curve ball, just when you thought they wouldn't possibly make it that simple; huzzah, they didn't and the chase continues even when the ep ends!

This just gives 8th Digivice vibes from 01, just swap it out for Wizardmon and day or night and bam, same scene. Crows and their shiny things and here I thought it was more Magpies but I guess they may not have those over there?

Meanwhile Precure, writing out parents since Futari wa, I've only been watching the 6 so far and it unreal how often this comes up already...

2 + 2 almost made 4, so close to making that connection.

Wait, does that mean the Grandma didn't pass the message on or she wanted a phone call for just a personal update to? Did the Grandma forget and let her worry before letting it slip? What is the implication here?

And to wrap it all up, a Mary Poppins impression? Wonder what she is doing back or why?

I just don't know what it is about this, the characters seem ok, there's nothing wrong with Mirai and Liko, maybe the pacing? It's all so mid, it isn't bad but it isn't good either, it has parts and moments but overall I just can't get seem to get into it. If anything, take the Precure side out and have this as a slice of life, two world show and it'd be just as effective. Nothing would really change.

Heck, our big bad has an amazing villain design, I hope there isn't some underwhelming big reveal near the end that ruins the presence he's been giving so far and it goes to waste.

[erenfox]

Y'all.

Episode 4.

It's the best piece of work Marvel has made after they made IW and Endgame.

spoiler alert 🚨

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lemme start off with our favourite Miss Jolly Rancher Unhinged Clock and Victorian-Era HWR Fangirl. I KNEW Ravonna had somehow helped HWR in building the TVA, but him erasing her memories was straight up evil.

Then we come to the absolutely gruesome deaths of Dox and the others. HOLY SHIT MISS JOLLY RANCHER IS AWFUL like she was enjoying every second of Dox and her hunters literally getting crushed to their deaths. B-15 was traumatised, to say the least and you can see on Ravonna and Brad's faces a hint of disgust. But Miss Minutes grinning like that - outright disturbing.

I can't get over OB and Victor fanboying over each other's work - it was so funny yet wholesome.

Now let's talk about Loki and Sylvie. As a diehard Sylki stan you know I am, my fangirling heart was overjoyed seeing these two lovesick ducks working together willingly! I mean, yea, they did have that rather awkward talk in Pie Land (mind you that's it's official name henceforth) but after that they worked together as teammates! Now I must say, I completely agree with Sylvie on snapping on Mobius, because, well, yeah, the multiverse is a bigger priority than pie and I legit don't get why tf antis hate on Sylvie for doing so. Like you hated her for not giving a damn abt the TVA + the multiverse, but now when she stood up to do so y'all are hating on her again?? Like?? Make up ur mind, smh.

Anyways, back to Sylki. Sylvie got stuck in the elevator and the way she and Loki worriedly called out each other's names was so soft! And the "You ok?" trope CAME BACK OMG! THAT PHRASE IS LITERALLY THE BACKBONE OF SYLKI! When I tell you my fangirling heart screamed with joy omg-

The the whole paradox scene which brought Ep 1 back in a circle. I absolutely loved the way our Loki realised what he had to do and went real slow to prune his past self just so that Past Loki could get a glimpse of Sylvie; which would then lead him to be more determined than ever to go look for her. And I quite literally died on Sylvie being confused af as to wtf she just witnessed.

Then there's the telephone scene. OH MY GOD it was literally OB all this time when fans were out here speculating it was Kang or someone lmao. Both Loki and Sylvie yelling simultaneously to turn the security thing off gives out so much Couple Vibes, I absolutely loved it AAHHAHAH-

AND. THE. BRAD. SCENE. OOF.

our friendly neighbourhood lovesick ducks teaming up to enchant Brad was just too good. Loki in his hot, creepy voice luring Brad into a dark area while Sylvie very swiftly just straight up grabbing his face from the back - pure horror. Absolutely loved it, 10/10. Tho I must say, to do execute elaborate scheme, these two must have done some detailed planning (=more Sylki moments we were robbed off).

BUT THAT ENDING DUCKING MURDERED ME BROO OMG

Can we talk abt Victor's redemption? Man had been portrayed as evil since Quantumania, and has been manipulated by both Ravonna and Miss Jolly Rancher, but at the end of the day, he was a sweetheart. Man fanboys OB and basically became besties with him and Casey, worked together to create the solution to a mess he most certainly didn't want to be a part of, and then himself stepped up to fix the Loom once and for all to prove to everyone (and not let Sylvie's choice of sparing him go to waste) that tho he contained HWR's DNA, he wasn't HWR - he was a far better person HWR could have ever been. Seeing him getting spaghettified was tragically heart-wrenching, man deserved so much better :(

BUT HOLY SHIT DID THAT ONE HECK OF A GODDAMN CLIFFHANGER LEFT ME SPEECHLESS LIKE WTF WAS THAT?? U can't just kill off a character who had redeemed himself, and then make our main character and his homies watch literally EVERYTHING THEY WORKED SO HARD FOR GET ANNIHILATED TO THE GROUND-

But we know our God of Mischief isn't dead, and so are his homies eheheh.

However the looks on everyone's face was tragic. Loki knew all was lost and had tears in his eyes. Sylvie looked like she had accepted defeat and her death. Mobius and OB were in denial, refusing to believe that Victor was dead. Casey and B-15 looked horrified, as they realised what was to come now upon them.

Tldr, this episode was an ABSOLUTE BANGER. IM READY TO CLAIM IT SUPERIOR THAN ENDGAME, come and fight me. Its a top cinematic piece, and the suspense to Ep 5 is eating me up.

Ig i should go and study for the 4 tests this week before ep 5 ;-;

[iwritenarrativesandstuff]

Trimax Thoughts Vol. 3 Pt. 1

Some more miscellaneous thoughts. I realized it's actually more convenient to do these before any analysis because. Well. I actually haven't read this manga before. Why was I trying to do full analyses before just letting myself read it. Why am I a dumbass.

Anyways.

It's the repression my dude

(Ok but can we talk about how Wolfwood doesn't really lie and his eyes convey his emotions whether he wants it or not and he still feels strongly because that attachment keeps him going and then how Vash has had to withdraw and shove everything into a box somewhere deep inside him because he always has to maintain a distance and always has to leave aughhh)

Ohhhhh that part where Vash is able to tell exactly how many strikes are incoming... I love how he becomes really precise and calculating in a fight. It's a really great way to show the severity of a situation and his skill and experience! (Bonus points: he does this in Tristamp too - I still cannot get over the way the animators chose to have him move right before he pulls out his gun in ep 1 - I went on an unhinged ramble about that. He's always fluid and grounded. I adore those animators they did a fantastic job.)

!!! I think this is the first time we've actually seen Knives' face since the Fifth Moon Incident! ...there's something to examine in this.

Feral Wolfwood <3

Yikes. If we wanted more emphasis on the way a lot of people around Vash do not stop to consider the severity of death. The violence is so typical in this world it's treated as a scene from which one can be detached. Vash's honest distress and compassion as entertainment :(

Hey. What the fuck.

The baby with the gun would be a lot funnier if I didn't know what Leonof had to do to people to make his puppets.

SICK AND TWISTED. WTF.

Ok say what you will though but Leonof so far has been the only one of the GHG that I think actually understands the assignment. Like. Yeah, this sure is the way to fucking break the guy. What the hell.

Oh, Vash knows him? Maybe that's why Leonof knows how to hurt him so well...?

AUGH he had puppet Doc, who vouched for Vash earlier to Brad, call him a demon!!! This also means he was killed! WTF

AUGHHHH wolfwood :(((

Meryl and Milly I love you so so much

Whjfhbdsjfbhv??? Girl??????

Vash: *starts blaming himself* Luida: "no." Vash: "oh, ok." :(

Hair down Vash <3

I really love the way we find out a bit more about Vash in this chapter. Him taking Meryl and Milly to a special place that helps him relax and heal and feel closer to Rem, even if he doesn't quite tell them that's what it is. Meryl knowing it's important somehow anyways and feeling like she can see him a little more clearly. Wolfwood freaked the hell out by the idea that Vash is immortal, but instead of leaving it at his assumptions, he still goes to talk to Luida and ask questions, who immediately proceeds to emphasize how lonely yet kind he is. We learn a lot about Vash in this chapter without him actually revealing anything about himself directly - all through other people, and the impact he's made on them. And I like how even though we find out more and more the differences between human and whatever Vash actually is, we circle right back around to confirming what we already knew about him from the beginning - he's fundamentally a kind man with a lot of pain in his heart who always makes the active choice to be nice. Just. Agh.

Wolfwood, running while carting his stupid IV pole over his shoulder: "oh fuck I need to protect women (and Vash)"

Softest look I've ever seen. What.

But ohhh does this make me happy. Because he's spent this volume thinking Vash has no survival instinct because he's immortal, etc., which terrifies him because he cannot understand not fighting to survive. Vash's smile makes a comeback here, but he now understands that it's not just a mask, it is the way he fights to survive. That smile is Vash's struggle to live in the same way the violent struggle is his, and Wolfwood I think/hope is starting to realize again that the gap is not so wide between them. He's calmed enough to remember that he actually likes this guy. Augh.

[open-hangar]

Space Defense Lanzer Ep. 7

CHARGON-ASSISTED ACCELERATED BREEDING PROGRAM SUBJECT RECORDS

Ngodumo Lwe Siyanqoba

Subject No. Fe.32A [Note: Subject prefers to be called “Nobubele” or “Bel”]

Species: F. Catus

Birth Date: ~0097 ADA

Size: 91cm from mask to tail tip, 11kg with mask and collar

Intelligence: Fully understood human speech at ~2 months, adult human-like speech [assisted] at ~4 months, 1st unassisted takeoff and landing at ~1 year. Faster learning and reaction speed than the majority of cadets. Abnormally high level of empathy, watch this for future issues.

Etc.: Enlarged brain larger than feline skull and underdeveloped facial muscles, necessitating a specialized mask for protection and expression. Requires specialized collar for communication and piloting. Currently assigned to Kpt. Dimba. Likes singing [Note: irrelevant, strike from records]

You and I are numbers first

And lovers second

Nobubele curled herself up onto the spacer’s sleeping chest, their soft breaths and beating heart calming her into gently purring. Kaptein Nomfundo Dimba, her commanding officer and lover, looked into the living room from the kitchen of the previously-unabandoned building that they were occupying. “We still have some eggs left, gonna fry some up. Also don’t smother them.”

Bel didn’t have the heart to tell her that she’d been doing this every day ever since they had captured the unconscious spacer. “Don’t worry,” a soft woman’s voice spoke from the black cat’s collar and explained, “I’m not going near their face.”

Dimba gave an unbelieving smirk, and disappeared back into the kitchen.

Everyone knows that

Everyone knows that

The digital eyes on Bel’s protective mask lit up to look at their sleeping prisoner. Upper command had warned them so much of the Abantu Benyanga’s advanced Lanzer that could annihilate entire platoons of GL’s, but she and Dimba had taken them down easily. Maybe the Bastet took them by surprise? Or maybe… Bel stretched out, turning over slightly onto her back. They’re so young. They look like a child…

The spacer’s flight suit was so ornate, but more comfortable to lie on than one would think. The cat couldn’t help but begin kneading the fabric with her paws, feeling it. Way nicer than Nomfundo’s leather uniform. We should figure out what this is made from.

The cat grew so comfortable that she slipped into song, as she was known to do when she was most comfortable and content. It was a little tune that came to her in a dream, about falling for someone when you know it’s all doomed.

Without her noticing, the spacer began to stir, their face contorting until their eyelids revealed two lilac irises that slowly focused on the strange animal on their chest. “Hu…hmm… what…” The digital representation of Bel’s eyes turned to two upended half circles, and the oscilloscope display on her collar lit up. “Hello, there.”

Soon enough one of us hurts

And one is broken

The spacer, startled, began flailing in panic. “Ah! What the hel… Get off me!”

Bel leapt off of their chest immediately, and the prisoner crawled back to claim the corner of the sofa that they had been sleeping on as safe haven. “Where am I? What the hell are you? Are you a torture device?”

Bel, sitting politely on the other end of the sofa, looked at her body and back at the spacer, a green question mark appearing in the middle of her face. “Goodness, I’m not that heavy, am I?”

Kpt. Dimba’s large frame appeared over the two of them, and placed two plates of scrambled eggs onto a coffee table in front of the sofa. “I dunno, I’m beginning to wonder if I should be feeding you these.”

“But they make my coat so silky smooth!”

Everyone says that

Everyone says that

Nomfundo sat down on a lounge chair next to the sofa, and finally noticed that their captive pilot had woken up. “Oh. Hey. You like eggs?”

The spacer’s mind raced, uncertain as to what to say. What language was she speaking? Wait, it was the same language the cat spoke. I think I know this? Remember what they trained you to say when questioned. “I am Lieutenant Junior Grade Elysian Truth, service number XS-988-5532. I refuse to answer any other questions until I’m returned to my people.”

A pair of long, thin metal hands unfolded out of Bel’s collar, and they gently grasped a fork in one of the plates of eggs. Dimba shrugged. “Well, I hope you like scrambled, because it’s the only kind I know how to make.”

She pushed her plate in front of Elysian, and got up to go back into the kitchen. The voice in Bel’s collar spoke up. “Could you get me some pepper, too, please?”

In a way I find it hard to hate

Because I know you’re looking for a chase

Lt. Truth shakily held out a hand to the plate of food in front of them. They were so hungry… How long had it been since they had a bite? Wait. Stop. These are the eggs of the enemy. “N-no. I won’t eat this. It’s poison.”

More question marks appeared on Bel’s face, and she replied, “Doesn’t taste like poison to me.”

Elysian leapt to their feet, backing away towards the open door, pointing at their captors. “That’s because you’re Earthers! Cruel, demented savages who breathe toxic air, drink toxic water, and eat toxic food! I could never-”

The panicking pilot moved to their face to gesture to the mask protecting them from the chargon in the air and feeding them their medicine, which was currently not there. Their gloved hands came into direct contact with their skin, and what little color there was in their face drained away. “H…H-wh…Bu…”

And I like to get caught and then let go

It’s so reliable, so inevitable that

We’ll never be as one

Dimba sat back down with a third plate of eggs, and placed her combat boot-covered feet on the coffee table. Bel grabbed her plate with her metal claws and hopped over to the sofa as her commanding officer explained, “Your mask was broken in your explosion. Shattered, glass or plastic or something everywhere. Your face was kind of cut up but otherwise fine. Whatever that stuff was that insulated the explosion was good stuff”

The black cat with a mouth full of egg spoke up to add on, “You’ve been enjoying good old fashioned chargon-infused Earth air for the better part of a week now. Sorry to surprise you with that.”

Lt. Truth’s breathing grew ragged as a sick newborn as they hyperventilated, their feet pulling them towards the open door as their captors watched with mild interest. “N-no… NO!!” They turned and bolted outside with the greatest speed their weakened legs could give them. Dimba took a shoveled fork full of eggs, and then stood up to follow Elysian out.

“Seems like hyperventilating is the last thing you want to do if you don’t want to breathe in chargon.”

You were my better half, a bad habit

When it was open, when it was all in

The temperate African scenery swam around Elysian Truth’s vision as they looked in every direction for a method of escape. A jeep? A jeep can’t fly. The Type-Artemis’ torso? They would need the rest of it to get anywhere. The jeep will have to do, for now. They stumbled down the deck stairs, shuffling awkwardly towards the vehicle as they did their best to cover their mouth and nose. They couldn’t afford to breathe one more mouthful of the heinous substance. After pulling fruitlessly at the car door handle as their vision faded, the thin spacer turned and ran into the grasslands and almost immediately slipped and fell down a steep incline.

Underneath the shade of an umbrella thorn tree, Elysian caught their breath slowly, deliberately, as they began to more calmly figure out what had happened. The sky was a gentle green that day, with wispy white clouds floating by. Kpt. Dimba’s face similarly floated into view, looking down at them. “You done?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

It didn’t last, but looking back, I’d do it again

Cause everyone loves that feeling

Elysian went to town on the plate of eggs before them, as well as several pieces of toast, two strips of bacon, and 3 Siyanqoba MREs. They noted particularly that they were a fan of the bread they used.

“We got into like 3 more fights with your boys over your mecha, they ended up claiming the head and one of the legs, while we got the other leg and both of the arms. We’ve still got the torso out front, like you saw, but it’s mostly fried. Its computer is straight up missing, too. I’m guessing it jettisoned, but that’s probably a secret that you won’t tell us.” Truth nodded in understanding, but was afraid to ask the obvious question.

“Did they… you know, try to find me?”

Don’t be sad we do this all the time

It’s part of being cruel with our kindness

Nomfundo looked away awkwardly with a bit of tragedy in her eyes, while Bel didn’t try to hide her disgust at the situation, her face turning an angry red. “No, sorry,” Nomfundo tried to ease in, but Bel’s hackles were raised, her back arched and her tail high.

“What the hell!” she exclaimed. “All of our soldiers are told to never leave a comrade behind! I can’t believe they care more about a stupid hunk of metal than its pilot! It’s incorrigible!” But Lt. Truth could only shake their head.

“No, it makes sense. The computer was the actual valuable part, they were probably just fighting over the other pieces so you couldn’t have them.” But the thing that truly hit Elysian’s heart… “The AI in Type-Artemis was… close to me. Closer than my family.”

What I have, your heart is missing

That’s how I like it, I’ll never change it how we’ll

Dimba and Bel shared a look over Elysian’s grieving shoulders. “Well… far be it from us to judge where someone’s heart lies.” This sentence is the kind of confusing brain shock that centers a person.

“Wait, no, not like that. I think? How…”

“It’s silly, right? Who could ever imagine me falling for a human~!”

“I don’t really know what your relationship is,” the lunarian tried to explain, “but it’s probably not like that. It’s gotten me through tough times, even from childhood.”

Nomfundo placed a large hand on the sad enemy pilot’s shoulder. “Well, I’ve got some news that’s good for you and bad for us. We don’t have that Lanzer’s computer, and we’ve been patrolling this area for days looking for it. If it’s anywhere, it’s with your men. So if you want to see your friend again, you’d better head back home and demand it.”

“And you’re just… letting me go?” Elysian is shocked. They’re a prisoner, right?

“You’re just a kid, you don’t know anything. Take our jeep and get out of here.”

The lieutenant squinted, doing their best to keep their poker face straight. If they knew that they were the child of a military leader, or that they were probably older than Dimba, or…

Never be as one

Never as one, never as one, no

We’ll never be as one

Never as one, never as one, no

We’ll never be as one

“When I see you again, I’ll kill you,” is the last thing that Elysian Truth says to Nomfundo and Bel before they drive off in the Earth duo’s jeep in search of their own rescue party. The two of them wave the spacer off as Nobubele thought aloud to her companion.

“So, what do you think?”

“I dunno. Too boyish for me. Either go full femme or fist fight me, y’know?”

Bel rubbed against her human girlfriend’s neck from the perch on her shoulder as she replied to the contrary, “I want to eat eggs with them again.”

Art by https://www.instagram.com/devon_steak/